Turnable wheeled skate

Abstract

A turnable wheeled skate having first and second wheels. The first and second wheels may be located fore and aft of the foot receiving portion of the skate and one, the other or both may be turnable. Several embodiments are disclosed including, but not limited to, a skate that is turnable by tilting the skate perpendicular to a line-of-direction or that provides turnable, paired wheels or that receives a users foot at a level below the top of the first and second wheels. The skate may provide a skating experience that more closely approximates ice-skating.

1 . A wheeled skate, comprising: 
 a support base having a longitudinal axis and a foot receiving region provided at least in part on said longitudinal axis;    a member for releasably coupling a foot at said receiving region;    a first wheel provided substantially forward of said receiving region; and    a second wheel provided substantially rearward of said receiving region;    wherein at least one of said first wheel and said second wheel turns relative to said base as the skate is tilted in a plane perpendicular to the line-of-direction of the skate.    
     
     
         2 . The skate of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a shaft extending rearward from said base in a manner substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis.    
     
     
         3 . The skate of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a rear wheel axle coupled between said shaft and said second wheel and configured for rotation perpendicular to said shaft.    
     
     
         4 . The skate of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a third wheel coupled through a rear wheel axle to said second wheel;    a shaft projecting rearward of said base; and    an axle mounting member that rotatably couples said rear wheel axle to said rearward projecting shaft.    
     
     
         5 . The skate of  claim 4 , further comprising an extender member configured to hold said shaft at a given angle.  
     
     
         6 . The skate of  claim 5 , wherein said given angle is between 5 and 30 degrees.  
     
     
         7 . The skate of  claim 4 , wherein tilting of said skate causes rotation of said axle about said shaft which in turn causes turning of said second and third wheels relative to said base.  
     
     
         8 . The skate of  claim 1 , wherein said foot coupling member is configured to define a vertical heel-line and an axis of rotation of said second wheel is provided rearward of said vertical heel-line.  
     
     
         9 . The skate of  claim 8 , wherein said base is configured to define a rearward horizontal base-line and the top of said second wheel is above said rearward horizontal base-line.  
     
     
         10 . The skate of  claim 1 , wherein said foot coupling member is configured to define a rearward extending horizontal toe-line and the top of said second wheel is above said horizontal toe-line.  
     
     
         11 . The skate of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first and second wheels is less than about six inches in diameter.  
     
     
         12 . The skate of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a fourth wheel coupled through a front wheel axle to said first wheel;    a shaft projecting forward of said base; and    an axle mounting member that rotatably couples said front wheel axle to said forward projecting shaft.    
     
     
         13 . The skate of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second wheels and said base are configured so that no wheel having a diameter equal to or greater than said first or second wheel is provided between said first and second wheel.  
     
     
         14 . A wheeled skate, comprising: 
 a first wheel;    a second wheel; and    a base structure that is coupled to and supports said first and second wheels;    wherein said second wheel turns relative to said base as the skate is tilted in a plane perpendicular to the line-of-direction of the skate and the top of said second wheel is above a horizontal toe-line extending from said skate towards said second wheel.    
     
     
         15 . The skate of  claim 14 , further comprising a turning mechanism that provides turnability to said second wheel, said turning mechanism including an angled shaft projecting from said base structure and a second wheel axle rotatably coupled to said shaft.  
     
     
         16 . The skate of  claim 14 , wherein said first wheel is provided substantially forward of said base structure and said first wheel is turnable relative to said base structure.  
     
     
         17 . The skate of  claim 14 , wherein said first and second wheels and said base are configured so that no wheel having a diameter equal to or greater than said first wheel or said second wheel is provided between said first and second wheels.  
     
     
         18 . A wheeled skate, comprising: 
 a base;    a foot coupling device coupled to said base;    a first wheel provided at one of substantially forward or rearward of said foot coupling device;    a second wheel and a third wheel that are provided at the other of substantially forward or rearward of said coupling device;    wherein said second and third wheels turn relative to said base as the skate is tilted in a plane perpendicular to the line-of-direction of the skate.    
     
     
         19 . The skate of  claim 18 , further comprising a turning mechanism that provides turnability to said second and third wheels, said turning mechanism including an angled shaft projecting rearward of said base in a manner substantially parallel to a vertical plane through a longitudinal axis of said base.  
     
     
         20 . The skate of  claim 18 , wherein said first wheel is provided substantially forward of said base and said first wheel is turnable relative to said base structure.  
     
     
         21 . The skate of  claim 18 , wherein said first, second and third wheels and said base are configured so that no wheel having a diameter equal to or greater than said first, second or third wheel is provided therebetween.  
     
     
         22 . A wheeled skate, comprising: 
 a base having a longitudinal axis;    a foot coupling device coupled to said base;    a first wheel;    a second wheel and a third wheel; and    a shaft extending forward or rearward of said foot coupling device substantially in parallel with a vertical plane through said longitudinal axis;    wherein said second and third wheels are coupled to said shaft and rotate relative to the shaft in a manner that turns the skate.    
     
     
         23 . The skate of  claim 22 , wherein said second and third wheels are provided in a paired relationship and coupled to a common axle.  
     
     
         24 . The skate of  claim 1 , further comprising a hand activated braking mechanism.  
     
     
         25 . The skate of  claim 14 , further comprising a hand activated braking mechanism.